Tag Archives: Interesting practice exemplar

This DYW ‘interesting practice’ exemplar provides a synoptic overview of the profiling format adopted by Kingussie High School. It also outlines its systematic approach of capturing and reporting learners’ wider achievement both within and out with the school in recognition of its significant contribution to the development of employability skills. This is part of the school’s wider DYW implementation plan with the aim of supporting learners’ progression towards sustained and positive destination.

This case study has been developed to contribute to professional learning for practitioners at all levels working with children and young people from 3 – 18. It is structured to both inform and to support reflection on existing strengths and areas of development around profiling within the context of DYW.

The exemplar focuses on three specific elements:

E-Portfolios

Wider Achievement Reporting

Visual CV’s.

What was done and why?

Profiling is a key component of a student’s development at Kingussie High School. It built E-Portfolio through Google Sites which allows student to store a variety of pieces of information about themselves, their learning and their skill development, digitally. In recognition of significant impact of wider achievement on the development of skills the school records and reports on this regularly. The information contributes to the wider profiling and reflection process of learners.

In order to support learners in articulating their skills and career aspirations the teachers and practitioners across all areas of the curriculum have regular conversations with learners and, when appropriate, with their parents. The school has also developed visual CVs linked to their skills framework to help learners reflect upon and share their skills and wider achievements.

What is its impact?

The above components are part of the school’s wider DYW ambition to foster career aspirations and increase the employability of learners. It also contributes to the wider attainment of learners, which has significantly increased over the last 3 years. This has been documented in the school’s ‘Developing your Senior Phase Curriculum’ documentation.

Laura Spence , HT at Dalgety Bay Primary School has adopted a unique approach to ensure that career education is an integral part of the school improvement planning. Embracing the Career Education Standard 3-18 all staff have used Learning Resource 1: Introduction to the Career Education Standard in order to embed the entitlements into the learning and teaching across the school.

This approach has become a cluster model and has been recognised by and share across Fife Council .

The school’s vision of realising their ambitions to provide all children with opportunities to connect leanring with the world of work include the following actions :

Teachers will provide creative opportunities to develop the skills for life in meaningful and relevant contexts within their class.

All teacher will deliver 4D learning intentions, consistently linking each lesson to career education.

Our weekly assemblies will regularly include information on specific careers, making children aware of the range of employment opportunities on offer.

Children from P5 onwards will have access to the ‘My World of Work’ website where they will have the opportunity to explore different career options focusing on skills and qualifications.

Classroom displays and planning will include links to Career Education throughout the school.

We will continue to engage with local business partners and beyond to develop contacts and create a database of professionals prepared to support the school in developing Career Education within school.

We will be planning and organising a Career Education Day that will take place on 22nd November 2016.

Find out more about Dalgety Bay Primary Schools approach by accessing the summary information, SLF 2017 presentation and school DYW leaflet here:

Developing learners’ skills is high on the agenda at Larbert High School. The leadership team have adopted a systematic approach to enhancing young peoples’ skills for life and work and implemented a holistic ‘Skills Framework’ across all aspects of the curriculum. The school uses the DYW context to offer learners a wide variety of experience and pathways in order to ensure all young people are developing the necessary skills and aptitudes for a positive vision about the futures. Collaboration with both the wider community and employers is elementary to the successful realisation of this goal.

The ‘Skills Framework at Larbert High School complements this agenda and ensures that all young peoples know, understand and are able to articulate their skill sets and are able to relate these to their career aspirations. The following document and presentation outlines the Skills Framework:

The first six ‘DYW interesting practice’ exemplars have now been published on Education Scotland’s National Improvement Hub, taking account the increasing number of activities around the implementation of this agenda. These exemplars aim to inspire thinking and discussion around a particular project or key issue as well as to provide people with contacts to collaborate as they progress on their journeys to enhance children and young peoples’ opportunities to develop skills for learning, life and work.

The following exemplars are available:

Skills Academy programme at St Matthew’s Academy (North Ayrshire): Young people gain vital employability and life skills through this unique initiative.

Kibble Education and Care Centre: Delivers a wide range of uniquely integrated services to equip disadvantaged young people with the skills and experience to pursue a fulfilling career and a brighter future